R.I.P. Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse

Bog

Sparklehorse’s Mark Linkous Takes Own Life

Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Linkous has committed suicide, his publicist confirms to Rolling Stone. Best known for his acclaimed work with Sparklehorse, who released four albums of imaginative ambient psych-folk, Linkous also produced Daniel Johnston’s 2003 album Fear Yourself and collaborated with Danger Mouse on Dark Night of the Soul. His exact age is unknown, but he was in his forties. “It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today,” reads a statement from his family. “We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There’s a heaven and there’s a star for you.”

Linkous’ dramatic, lush music often came from a place of pain. In 1996, Linkous actually died for two minutes after ingesting a dangerous mix of Valium and antidepressants while on tour in the U.K. behind Sparklehorse’s 1995 debut Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot. He recovered, but the incident left him crippled — he laid unconscious for 14 hours, cutting off circulation to his legs. He suffered a heart attack when medics attempted to straighten his legs, and underwent seven surgeries to save his damaged limbs. But after the incident, he recorded 1999’s Good Morning Spider, 2001’s It’s A Wonderful Life and 2006’s Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain. “For a while there, I was really scared that when I technically died — which I guess I did for a few minutes — that the part of my brain that allowed me my ability to write songs would be damaged,” he told Rolling Stone in 1999.

Linkous most recently teamed up with Danger Mouse and director David Lynch on Dark Night of the Soul, a multimedia project that was tied up in legal issues with EMI; just this past week, Danger Mouse and the label resolved their dispute and agreed to let the album come out as it was originally intended.

Linkous’ publicist confirms he was nearly finished with a new album that was due on Anti- Records.


R.I.P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjsUZRs770U

fillmore jive

An absolute shame. I remeber going to a Frames gig when I was about 15 and they did a cover of 'Most Beautiful widow in town' and I was hooked to them ever since.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7rOKhmnw44

zimovain

Shocking!

Birneybau

Ah jaysus,thats really sad.Very talented man,beautiful voice.

R.I.P

JerryHandbag

Was really looking forward to release of his album with Danger Mouse later this year. Will be a bittersweet event now. So sad

Sútalún

Nooooo. Can't believe it. Really really really sad.. I LOVED sparklehorse.

donfers

good morning spider is one of my fave albums ever and was probably the first album I got that kind of took me away from the mainstream.....really sad news

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoBU4SP4iiI

donfers

Here is the song with the lyric referenced in the family statement

the line being "There's a heaven and there's a star for you"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i8s245jxRE

Kid V

Gutted. Listening to 'Its A Wonderful Life' now. He was a poignant genius

JerryHandbag

Listening to "Dreamt For Light Years in The Belly of the Mountain" right now. Some sad music on a sad day.

monkey9

My God, that is shocking!! I love Sparklehorse's stuff. He did a great cover of a Johnny Cash song which i bloody can't remember which one it is now.

And i only found out a couple of weeks ago that Vic Chesnutt died just before Xmas. Big Losses

RIP :(

argonaut

This is awful, and just about one of the worst things that could have happened to modern music. Sparklehorse was brilliant.

RIP, Mark.

Terrontress

RIP Mark.

I saw them live supporting Radiohead in Offenbach in 1998 and they were great.

Mr E

Time to throw some Sparklehorse on the ipod.

RIP.

endaob

RIP.

Sad day for music, incredibly talented man.


Love this version of Saturday...

indiewindy

r.i.p Mark.

Such a talent gone

flyswatter

Thats absoloutely shocking, Sparklehorse were on my list of bands to check out, RIP.

A Disgrace

Disaster.. the Whelans gig about 10 years ago or so was a highlight for me.. as were all of the records..

Marias little elbows on repeat now

BennyBlanko

Sad news...RIP

phelixoflaherty

Sad day. They played Roisins a few years back and the whole crowd were happy to have them there.
His music was important and unique too.

phelixoflaherty

The Johnny Cash was Down in a Dungeon

AnonoBoy

phelixoflaherty wrote: »

The Johnny Cash was Down in a Dungeon

Dark As A Dungeon I think you mean.

eyeball kid

RIP - This very sad alright.

homerun_homer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbDzob84Tok

Ouravit

RIP
Toured with Radiohead on OK Computer tour.
They played this tune together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih4bm-91Wq4&feature=player_embedded#

gandroid

phelixoflaherty wrote: »

Sad day. They played Roisins a few years back and the whole crowd were happy to have them there.
His music was important and unique too.

Yeah I was at that gig and he came across really sound and engaged with the crowd etc. What a shame to lose such a genius. I remember hearing Hundreds of Sparrows on a free CD that came with a mag in 1999/2000 and I just had to find out more....realised how many of their albums I have on my iPod yesterday....such a travesty he's gone now.....RIP

loyatemu

Very sad news - "Good Morning Spider" is a great album

SAINTRON

new David Lynch album is streaming at NPR. Marks influence/input is evident throughout especially on So Glad.....

http://www.npr.org/2011/10/30/141598329/first-listen-david-lynch-crazy-clown-time

Well worth the listening time.:D

RIP MARK.